Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I was pleased to be able to maintain the budget in the face of huge difficulties nationally. The budget for the new child and family support agency was slightly increased in fact. It was very important to have that stability.

There are approximately ten children receiving services abroad. This care tends to be very expensive as the Deputy knows. I have given him the details in reply to the question he asked. These are highly specialised placements for children with behavioural and sexual difficulties. The cost per month varies from €26,000 per month to $10,400 per month at the facility in Nebraska where one child is placed. We are still using some services abroad. I would like to examine whether we have the capacity to deliver these services domestically to the small number of children who need them. The services are not available currently. Under High Court supervision, the decision has been taken in relation to a small number of children to place them abroad.

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